15112025-LSTL-01.qxd 11/15/2025 12:06 AM Page 1 c m y b MAMMOOTTY IN CINEMAS SOON Mammootty’s fans are in for a treat as the trailer of their favourite actor’s upcoming film Kalamkaval is finally out. The film is slated to release in theatres on November 27. Starring Vinayakan and Mammootty in the lead roles, the movie is directed by Jithin K Jose. TRIBUNE Life Decoding Mona W HAT comes to your mind when you hear Agra? The eternal monument of love or the pagalkhana? Definitely the latter for filmmaker Kanu Behl, whose film Agra, after a successful international run at prestigious film festivals, has finally hit the theatres. The film, a bold and unsettling exploration of desire, repression and social taboos, marks the return of Aashiqui star Rahul Roy to the big screen alongside newcomer Mohit Agarwal (Guru) and Priyanka Bose (Priti). DESIRES Kanu Behl, whose film Agra addresses repressed sexual desires, says he didn’t make the film through a titillating lens From Punjab to Mumbai “I grew up surrounded by theatre and fiction,” Behl said. His mother, a professor at Punjabi University’s Department of Theatre and Television, and his father, an NSD-trained actor, introduced him to the world of performing art early in life. “By 11 or 12, I was already assisting them on Doordarshan telefilms,” he recalled. After studying at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute and working on projects like Titli, Behl found his cinematic voice — one grounded in realism and psychological depth. “I’ve had a good journey,” he said with a smile. “Three feature films and a short in 10 years — pretty good for an outsider in Bollywood.” The genesis of Agra Behl began writing Agra drawing inspiration from his own formative years in Delhi. “Growing up, I sensed a certain sexual repression — my inability to express oneself,” he said. “I realised many boys around me were going through the same thing, especially those living in cramped spaces, with no room or vocabulary to interact with the opposite sex.” This reflection became the seed for Agra, a story that delves into how unspoken desires and societal silence shape individuals. “We hear so much about sexual violence in India,” Behl explained. “But few try to understand why it happens. The real issue lies within the repressed emotional worlds of men — something we rarely explore empathetically, howsoever difficult that is.” Trailer out The makers of Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi- starrer Wuthering Heights have released the trailer of the film on Thursday. The movie is directed by Emerald Fennell. LUDHIANA | SATURDAY | 15 NOVEMBER 2025 Casting Rahul Roy and a newcomer “Rahul Roy cast himself in the role,” says Behl. “He joined the acting workshops without ego, worked tirelessly, and one evening told me, ‘ Kanu, I’ll only do this character — no one else will,’” Behl shared. “That sincerity sealed it for me.” Newcomer Mohit Agarwal, who plays the central character, was discovered after extensive auditions. “He had to be someone who could do disturbing things on screen yet evoke empathy,” he said. Agra’s festival run Agra premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, followed by an award-winning festival run across the globe. “The festival journey helped the film gain visibility — it was crucial because we don’t have star power or a big marketing budget,” Behl said. After exploring streaming options, the team chose to release the film theatrically. “Happy we circled back to this.” he affirmed. A film not about sex but desire Addressing the explicit nature of the film, Behl clarified, “It’s easy to misread Agra as a film about sex. But it’s really about desire — human desire and transactionality. We all navigate relationships that fall somewhere between these two poles.” He added, “We’ve not made this film through a titillating lens. It’s truthful, not exploitative. If someone chooses to see it as sleazy, that’s their interpretation — but that’s not the film’s truth.” Interpreting the film What’s in the name? The film’s title, Behl revealed, carries layered meaning. “Everyone knows Agra for the Taj Mahal outside India, but in India, we also associate it with the mental asylum — Agra ka pagalkhana,” he said. “The film’s house felt like a madhouse — every character is lost in their own world. The protagonist might seem crazy, but perhaps he’s the sanest one among them.” c m y b “It’s not a film about mental health,” Behl said firmly. “Labelling the protagonist ‘mad’ lets the audiences distance themselves from him. The harder thing is to empathise — to ask, ‘If I were him, what would I feel?’” “The ending isn’t happy,” he hinted. “There’s deep irony in how the same people who once condemned him come together for material gain.” For audiences ready to confront the raw, unsettling truths of desire, repression, and family dynamics, Agra hit cinemas across India on November 14. Farewell to a Legend Kamini Kaushal, the face of India’s historic Cannes victory, passes away at 98 Veteran actress Kamini Kaushal, best known for her roles in Bimal Roy’s Biraj Bahu (1954) and Arzoo (1950) with Dilip Kumar, passed away at the age of 98 in Mumbai. Kamini Kaushal was one of the leading actresses in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s era of Indian cinema. her debut, Neecha Nagar (1946), won the prestigious Grand Prix du Festival International du Film at the inaugural Cannes Film Festival, and remains the only Indian film to win the Palme d’Or. — ANI